No Love Lost (Masters & Mercenaries The Forgotten #5) - Lexi Blake Page 0,17

Levi?

The driver’s hands came up as Kim swung a leg over and managed to drop to the ground. He could see the zip ties on her wrists, but it looked like she’d busted them apart. She had both hands free as she got to her feet. She immediately went for the small holster she kept at her ankle when she wore slacks. She would have a backup there, likely a single-use gun she’d printed. It would be made of resin so it wouldn’t set off metal detectors. Despite the fact that he hadn’t lived with her in years, he still knew her habits. She kept a 3D printer with some super illegal files in most of her safe houses. It would only give her one shot, but sometimes that was all she needed.

The Benz pulled up beside him. Ariel had taken over driving. She’d opened the back seat passenger door so they could both slide in. “Let’s go.”

But Kim seemed to have other ideas. She had that gun in her hand and she turned back to the limo.

He wanted so badly to let her do it, end the threat. But they were sitting on a powder keg, and it could go off any second. “Kim, get in the car. Now.”

She faced him, her expression going stubborn. “He’s right there. He’s knocked out and vulnerable.”

And didn’t that sound perfect? Maybe they did have enough time. Maybe it would be worth it. If he got taken in and Levi was dead, he could handle that particular outcome.

But Brody Carter had a son and a wife, and Nick’s wife had recently given birth to their first, a daughter. Ariel had recently gotten married.

Then the questioning was over because the driver decided to take his shot. The driver moved a hand and came up with a gun pointed right at him. Ezra dropped to the pavement and rolled as Kim turned and fired on the driver.

“Now, Kim,” he shouted. They were out of time. Like they always seemed to be with Levi. Ariel was right. Levi was likely trying some shady shit, and he would want to cover it up. But if there was a body…

She cursed and ran for the car as the driver took another shot. Ezra gave her some cover but felt a bullet graze his left shoulder. It burned but he managed to fire again, sending the driver back into his hidey-hole.

“She’s in,” Ariel shouted. “And Walt says the police received a call about an accident. We need to move.”

He backed toward the car, firing off another couple of shots to keep the driver at bay before sliding in the open door. Before he could even slam it shut, Ariel was taking off.

He leaned over and covered Kim’s head, getting them both below the windows. Sure enough someone was firing as Ariel sped away.

“Nick and Brody are off,” she said in a low voice. “The other car isn’t following. They’re back trying to help the limo, which means they’ve been ordered not to follow.”

“Police are coming from your east,” Walt announced. “I’ll send you the best route to get to Damon’s garage. He’s got a car stored there. I’ll meet you and give you the address for the safe house. Ari, drop them off and then get to that restaurant. It’s the one by the Tate. Hayley’s waiting for you. I want you on CCTV asap. Nick and Brody are going back to their surveillance job, and I’ll send a car for Damon.”

Kim was quiet underneath him, perfectly still as he covered her. He’d expected she’d fight him, not let him protect her. She could be fierce.

“Will do,” Ari said. “Keep your heads down. Kim, it’s good to have you back.”

“It’s good to not be kidnapped and taken to a bunker somewhere,” Kim replied quietly.

He stayed where he was, covering her with his body. They couldn’t get up until they were well past that airfield. Levi might have men waiting there, men who would try to take her back. “Are you all right?”

He wanted to hold her, but now that he was here with her, everything that sat between them rustled around in his head again. She was trouble. She’d always been trouble. Even when she was trying to love him, she somehow managed to hurt him.

What the hell was he doing? He should send her to Tag and let him figure this all out. Even as he thought the words, he knew he wouldn’t do it.

“I am now,” she